Also showing up to support Ting was a woman who pushed the Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance Act (強制汽車責任保險法) through the legislature in 1996, former Republic of China Car Accident Rescuer Association chairperson Ko Tsai Yu-chiung (柯蘇玉瓊).

She described Ting as a person “who has always stood on the side of the people and the socially disadvantaged” and said he was the only lawmaker to strongly back her two-decade campaign to promote the act, while many others tried to block it.

The 59-year-old Ting, a legislator since 1990 except for three years from 2002 to 2005, expressed his gratitude to the many friends who came to support him.

“Facing the enormous resources of my competitor, I will climb up against the wind,” Ting said.

He was alluding to former EasyCard Corp chairman Sean Lien (連勝文), the 44-year-old son of former vice president Lien Chan (連戰), who is seen as a rising star in the party and the frontrunner in the race.

A member of the KMT’s Central Committee, Sean Lien yesterday also campaigned for public support along with his wife, Tsai Yi-shan (蔡依珊), at a charity gala in Neihu District (內湖).

While Tsai used her warm smile to canvas support, Sean Lien promoted his vision of rebalancing the city’s development by revitalizing western Taipei and upgrading the already vibrant eastern part of the city.

Sean Lien also trumpeted a list of advisers he has recruited to help him develop policies to achieve his vision.